- College stages send off party for her 2024 graduands
By Nna Anulumadu
On Saturday, November 16, 2024, His Grace, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha, paid a one-day pastoral visit to Mater Amabilis Secondary School, Umuoji, where the college held a colourful send off party for its 2024 graduands.
During the event, 293 candidates received sacrament of confirmation, and best-performing students were rewarded with gift items.
In his homily, Archbishop Okeke encouraged students to embrace the culture of excellence championed by the Onitsha Archdiocese. “Imbibing this culture means having a dream, translating it into concrete plans, finding a mentor, persevering, and backing it with prayers,” he said.
The Archbishop praised the students for their outstanding performances in recent competitions, including the Archbishop Valerian Okeke Science Competition (AVOSCO), urging them to sustain their academic tempo.
“Excellence is not a destination, but a continuous journey. Your academic achievements are a testament to your hard work and dedication and I am proud of the progress Mater Amabilis Secondary School has made so far.”
Shortly after the Mass, the college in a welcome address, praised Archbishop Okeke, their proprietor, for his magnanimity, encouragement, and support. The college highlighted its recent achievements including winning first to eight positions at the regional level of the 2024 AVOSCO competition, attributing its success to the Archbishop’s encouragement and support . It was also revealed that 2024 graduands performed excellently well in their WAEC and JAMB results as well.
Responding, Archbishop Okeke commended Rev. Fr. Francis Onwuchulum, the school manager, for taking the college to unprecedented heights academically, morally, and otherwise. He also praised the school principal and staff for their selfless efforts.
The school manager Fr. Onwuchulum in his speech thanked the Archbishop for his guidance and vision, attributing the college’s success to his leadership. “Your grace, we cannot thank you enough for your passion, sacrifices and commitment towards education. Thank you for giving everything you have to form so many young people, which I am previlaged to be one of the beneficiaries.”
He also thanked the staff for their commitment and parents for their trust. “We offer holistic, quality and top-notch education here and parents and the members of the society are testifying to it. “
The school Principal, Mrs lbekwe Lucy Ego in her own contribution appreciated the Archbishop for visiting. She asserted that her school is really setting the pace academically, morally and otherwise.
The Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) chairman expressed gratitude to Archbishop Okeke for appointing Fr. Onwuchulum as manager, citing the college’s transformation under his leadership.
The manager/principal of Christ the King College Onitsha , Rev Fr Dr Celestine Arinze Okafor in his contribution congratulated the college for academic excellence, positing that Fr Onwuchulum is blazing the trail at the school .
The regent Umuoji community, Chief Chris Nnedu in his remarks expressed happiness over the litany of successes the college is recording, stating that their academic excellence has put Umuoji town in the world map.
Also, the secretary of Umuoji development Union , Chief Emeka Egbue who is one of the parents rated the school as the best in South East of Nigeria, stating that he is satisfied with the training his wards are receiving at the college.
One of the graduands of the college Miss Chisom Egbue who spoke to Trinitas Newspaper, testified about the quality training embedded in morals she received, thanking her parents for the great opportunity given to her at her Alma mater.
